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Fixing lower panels

I've always struggled to fit the nuts and bolts into the flanges of the lower panels when attaching these to the bodywork. You really need two hands inside two fasten the nuts and bolts together but can only reach in with one hand. Anyone have any advice for the best way to do this? I had thought a series of captive nuts bonded in would simplify the process then I wondered about using butterfly nuts as these would effectively lock themselves against the fibreglass preventing them from turning while the bolt could be tightened up using one spanner. Thoughts, suggestions?

I welded flat stainless plates to the heasds of stainless bolts - the plate only needs to be a couple of inches long (or less) drop bolt through flange, put on nut, plate rotates until it hits inner panel and stops.... simples!

It's a 50 year old car and everything works, just not always at the same time.......and it's probably about to get jealous!*Donate to Euro-Nova today!*

I welded flat stainless plates to the heasds of stainless bolts - the plate only needs to be a couple of inches long (or less) drop bolt through flange, put on nut, plate rotates until it hits inner panel and stops.... simples!

has anyone considered taking this to the next step, where they have long strips of plate metal with said bolts welded into place? it would add a little weight, but I would imagine it would put less strain on the body when they're being tightened up... maybe a second strip plate to be its mate, so the fibre glass is sandwiched between the two?
My only concern would be choosing something that wouldn't corrode too quickly? (galvanized maybe?)

has anyone considered taking this to the next step, where they have long strips of plate metal with said bolts welded into place?

Yes! I have long metal plates with 2 or more welded bolts on them on the sides and rear. It makes it a much easier 1 handed job of tightening the the panels up with a ratchet. The long metal bars however are not actually fiberglassed to the body, merely dropped into the holes where the bolts are.

Having said that, I think I'm likely to follow Jim's example of the blind nut fixings from CBS on the scooby Nova

Yes! I have long metal plates with 2 or more welded bolts on them on the sides and rear. It makes it a much easier 1 handed job of tightening the the panels up with a ratchet. The long metal bars however are not actually fiberglassed to the body, merely dropped into the holes where the bolts are.

Having said that, I think I'm likely to follow Jim's example of the blind nut fixings from CBS on the scooby Nova

I hadn't considered glassing them in, but thats something to consider for future innovations